Animated display device



Gd. 1935. .1. G. RUCKELSHAUS ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1933 11v VENTOR Q 0, 240% MW,

BY 3 QTMFAW A TTORIVEV Oct. 22, 1935. J. G. RUCKELSHAUS ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 30, 1933 2 Sheets$heet 2 l/V VENTUR W,0MQ

A TTOR/VEY atente Got. 22, 1%35 UNTED PAT'ET OFFIC John G. Euclselshaus, Newark, N. 1., assignor to Motion Displays, Inc, a corporation of New York Application 5e 30, 1933, Serial No. 673,389

"3 @ieims.

it is now common practice for the manufacturer either to assemble such devices before delivery to the user or to forward the. various elements unassembled with a detailed description as to how they are to be assembled to obtain the desired effect. The former procedure is unsatisfactory since it necessitates the return of the power unit to the manufacturer each time it is desired to change the display and the latter procedure is objectionable since it requires considerable time and effort on the part of the user to assemble the various elements in proper order.

In accordance with the present invention, the above, as well as other difiiculties, are avoided by providing the various displays with means whereby they may be quickly and accurately secured to the power unit in a desired manner.-

For a clearer understanding of this invention reference may be made to. the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear view with portions broken away of an assembled structure embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side View, in section, taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view, in section, of a retaining pocket associated with a movable display, the view being taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view, in section, of a modified type of pocket;

Fig. 5 is a detail view, in section, of a retaining pocket associated with a stationary display, the view being taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is another detail view, in section, of the retaining pocket shown in Fig. 5, the view being taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

As shown, the display comprises a stationary poster 8 and a movable poster 9. The prime mover for actuating the movable poster 9 is of the type disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 658,913, filed February 28, 1933, Patent No. 1,932,146, October 24, 1933 and comprises a base plate iii, the upper end of whichcurves outwardly and downwardly to form a bracket II as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The bracket H is provided with horizontally aligned (Cl. dik -52) apertures fo bearings for a rotatable shaft 82. The upper end of a pendulum it is fixedly secured to the rotatable shaft i2 and acts as a driving means therefor. The lower end of the pendulum it carries an electro-magnetlc coil 54 of the solenoid type having a central longttudinal opening l5 therethrough for the reception of an armature or core member it. The upper end of the armature I5 is secured to the lower end of the base plate it which curves out wardly and is provided with a resilient stop member ll against which the coil it strikes when .in its extreme position. The armature it has a curved portion, the arc of curvature of which is described from the axis of rotation of the shaft l5 it as a center and with the curved portion centrally aligned with the opening i5 whereby the active portion of the armature conforms to the path of movement of the coil, thus allog the coil to swing upwardly thereon.

The back of the stationary display poster 8 is provided with means for supporting the prime mover. The prime mover supporting means preferably employed comprises a suppo ting tab it having a straight edge is against which the lower end of the base it rests and a retaining opening or pocket 2% into which a bracket 25 which is secured to thebase it extends. The tab it with the retaining pocket 20 may be made as an integral part of the stationary display member 3 or it may be made as a separate unit and afilxed thereto by any suitable means. The tab is so positioned on the back of the stationary display member 8 that when the lower edge of the base I8 rests on the straight edge l9 and the bracket ii is inserted into the pocket 20. the pendulum It automatically assumes a predetermined position. 1

Means are provided for making small adjustments in the position of the pendulum It so that in the event the pendulum is not in the desired predetemiined position when assembled it may be so adjusted. The pendulum adjusting means desirably employed comprises a rod 22 which is rigidly fastened at one end to the shaft 82 and which is provided with a movable counter weight 23. By this arrangement the position of the pendulum may be altered by changing the position of the counter weight.

Adjustable means are provided for imparting 59 the motion of the pendulum IE to the movable display poster 8. The motion imparting means desirably employed comprises two brackets or oflset links 25 and 26. The link 25 is fixedly secured. to the shaft i2 so as to oscillate therewith.

The link 28 is secured to link by means of screws 21 and 28 which pass through aligned openings in the links. The screws 21 and 28 are desirably provided with wing nuts 29 and 30 to permit rapid reassembly. The link 26 extends outwardly through 'a curved opening 3| in the stationary display poster 8 and then upwardly and engages the movable display poster 9. The use of a plurality of links as the connecting medium between the movable display and the pendulum permits various assemblies and thus various relative movements between the display posters which is highly desirable.

The means preferably employed for securing the movable display poster 9 to the end 01' bracket 28 is shown in Fig. 3 and comprises a tab 32 having an enclosed retaining pocket 33. As shown the pocket 33 is tapered and is provided at its upper end with a curved bearing strip 34 against which the upper end of the link 26 is in contact. This arrangement is desired since it permits the movable'display poster 9 to rock as it oscillates. In the modified form shown in Fig. 4 the retaining pocket 35 is formed so that the end of the link 26 fits snugly therein. The tab 32 is positioned that when the movable display element is mounted on the end of the link 26, the

weight of the display element is evenly distributed, thus permitting the pendulum IE to remain in the desired predetermined position.

In operation, the coil i4 is energized from a suitable electric circuit to eifect movement of the coil in one direction and a circuit interrupter 35 which is mounted on the pendulum I 6 is arranged to open the electric circuit to allow gravity return and reverse, movement of the coil it and the pendulum l6 and to again close the circuit to effect continuous swinging or oscillation of the pendulum. The circuit interrupter is of standard form consisting of a sealed glass container into which the separate wire terminals areled at one end thereoi and containing mercury for bridging the terminals to close the circuit when tilted in one direction and withdrawing from the terminals to open the circuit when tilted in the opposite direction, the interior of the container being exhausted or containing an inert gas to prevent arcing. The wire leads, as shown, have flexible loops sufficient to allow of the proper movement of the pendulum.

In operation, upon closing the electric circuit the solenoid coil will be energized and by its field attraction will be moved upwardly with relation to the curved, fixed armature until the angular position of the pendulum causes the terminals within the mercury switch element to disengage the mercury and open the circuit whereupon the pendulum and the coil mounted thereon acting as a pendulum. weight will swing in the opposite direction by gravity and momentum and thereafter have a continued swinging or oscillatory movement receiving a power impulse upon the successive and intermittent closing of the circuit by the mercury switch element. The oscillating motion thus imparted to the pendulum is transmitted to shaft I2 and from shaft l2 through the brackets or links to the movable display poster 9.

- The present invention hasbeen shown and described merely in preferred form and by way It should. therefore be understood that many changes and variations may be made therein and in its mode of application which will mover thereto and a member carried by saidmovable display poster and adapted to receive the other end of said linkage arrangement.

2. In combination, a prime mover, a stationary display poster, a movable display poster, an adjustable linkage arrangement, one end 0! which is associated with said prime mover, means for securing said prime mover to said stationary display poster and a member carried by said movable display poster and adapted to receive the other end of said linkage arrangement.

, 3. In combination, a prime mover comprising a pendulum, a stationary display poster, 2. movable display poster, a linkage arrangement associated with said pendulum, means for securing said prime mover to said stationary display poster so that said pendulum is in a predetermined position when at rest, means for securing said move-'- ble display poster to said linkage arrangement and means for varying the position of said pendulum when at rest.

4. In combination, a prime mover, a stationary display poster, a movable display poster, a linkage arrangement associated with said prime mover, a tab member having a bearing surface asociated with said stationary poster and adapted to supportsaid prime mover, and a tab member having a pocket therein associated with said movable display poster and adapted to engage said linkage arrangement.

5. In combination, a prime mover having a retaining bracket thereon, a stationary display poster, a movable display poster, anda tab memher having a bearing surface and a retaining pocket associated with said stationary display poster, said bearing surface being adapted to support said prime mover and said pocket being adapted to retain said bracket.

6. In combination, a prime mover having a retaming bracket thereon, a stationary display poster, a movable display poster, a linkage arrangement associated with said prime mover, a

tab member having a bearing surface adapted to.

support said prime mover anda retaining pocket adapted to engage said bracket, and a tab member having a retaining pocket associated with said movable member and adapted to receive said linkage arrangement.

7. In combination, a prime mover comprising 

